City Council seeks revocation of The Page's liquor license

Tuesday

May 7, 2013 at 2:00 AM

PORTSMOUTH — The City Council voted Monday night to petition the state Liquor Commission to revoke The Page's liquor license, a move that could ultimately lead to the closure of the controversial downtown establishment.

Charles McMahon

PORTSMOUTH — The City Council voted Monday night to petition the state Liquor Commission to revoke The Page's liquor license, a move that could ultimately lead to the closure of the controversial downtown establishment.

Councilors were unanimously in support of the action, which was one of three recommendations made to the council by the Legal Department to address a history of crime and liquor violations associated with the Hanover Street establishment.

Petitioning liquor officials for the revocation of the liquor license was the "most aggressive" option the council could take, City Attorney Robert Sullivan said Monday night.

If successful, Sullivan said, the action would most likely result in the closing of the business.

Prior to the vote, Police Chief Stephen DuBois gave a short presentation to the council summarizing police activity involving The Page over the years. According to DuBois, police have been called to The Page for reports of assaults, thefts, fights, disorderly conduct, unwanted patrons, underage patrons and vomiting patrons.

In addition, DuBois' report included information on driving while intoxicated arrests related to The Page, a sexual assault tied to the establishment, and information about patrons who were hospitalized for overconsumption of alcohol and injuries received inside and near the establishment.

DuBois' report also lists a significant history of infractions cited by the state Liquor Commission Bureau of Enforcement against The Page. Two of those cases are pending.

The Page has been the subject of more calls for police services than any other downtown establishment, DuBois said.

The most recent example of violence at The Page occurred April 5, when Joshua Krantz, 24, was hit from behind, then beaten on the dance floor, hours before he was found dead at his home from what authorities say was bleeding due to a skull fracture.

Charged in connection with the beating is Zachary O'Neill, 24, of 12 New York St., Dover. O'Neill faces a felony charge of first-degree assault alleging he repeatedly beat Krantz in The Page because Krantz had spilled a drink on him.

Since that incident, Rockingham County Attorney James Reams announced he is seeking a felony indictment against the corporate owner of The Page for allegedly allowing alcoholic beverages to be consumed on the dance floor in the downstairs Stadium Lounge.

Councilors were not shy about their feelings toward The Page on Monday night.

Councilor Chris Dwyer said she believes there has been no evidence that the establishment has taken any of the actions against it seriously.

"I think it's a real insult to the many other restaurants we have in our community that do serve alcohol and are able to maintain an appropriate and safe atmosphere to assume that we would allow this extreme behavior to go on," Dwyer said.

Councilor Brad Lown said at first he was undecided on how to vote, but ultimately changed his mind after seeing the list of 102 violations provided to the council by the Police Department.

Lown said he feels the revocation of the liquor license might go a long way to changing the culture at the establishment.

Councilor Nancy Novelline Clayburgh called the atmosphere created inside and outside of The Page "scary," adding that it caused her to be concerned for the well-being of her own children.

"The behavior that is going on there, in my opinion as a mother, is totally out of control and needs to be stopped," she said.

While councilors were fully in favor of the motion to crack down on The Page, some stated a concern that there may be another problem with the amount of unruly patrons visiting the city.

Councilor Jack Thorsen questioned what would happen to the establishment's patrons if The Page did close.

"Does this problem just migrate to the next place?" he asked. "It looks like we have a patron issue just as much as we have an establishment issue."

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
seacoastonline.com ~ 111 New Hampshire Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service